Recently, when directly asked to denounce the war in Ukraine and her country’s involvement as a staging area for Russian forces, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus had declined to respond.

Marta Kostyuk, a player from Ukraine who would face the 25-year-old in the first round of the French Open, pushed the woman to express her opinion on the conflict.

Who is Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka is a professional tennis player from Belarus. She was born on May 5, 1998, in Minsk, Belarus. Sabalenka started playing tennis at a young age and quickly rose through the ranks, showcasing her talent and potential.

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She turned professional in 2015 and has since become one of the top players in women’s tennis. Sabalenka is known for her powerful and aggressive playing style, often hitting powerful groundstrokes and delivering big serves. Her aggressive approach to the game has earned her numerous victories and titles.

Sabalenka has achieved success in both singles and doubles competitions. In singles, she has won multiple WTA titles, including the prestigious WTA Elite Trophy in 2019 and the Madrid Open in 2021. She has also achieved success in Grand Slam tournaments, reaching the semifinals of the 2020 US Open.

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In doubles, Sabalenka has had considerable success as well. She has won multiple titles with her former partner Elise Mertens, including the Australian Open in 2019 and the US Open in 2019.

Why doesn’t Aryna Sabalenka have a flag representing her nationality?

In March 2022, tennis’ governing bodies barred players from Russia and Belarus from competing under the name or flag of either country due to the war, requiring them to play under neutral flags.